The Final Countdown To...

Friday, December 9, 2011

Primary Source and Character Analysis: John Brown



Consider the events involving John Brown from both Kansas and Harpers Ferry, VA. Then, please read the following reading, a letter written by Brown four days prior to his execution for treason. Then, consider the following question and comment: Was John Brown a hero and a martyr OR a madman? 


When commenting, you should provide your own personal insight, from readings, class, and comment on another person's response, tell whether you agree or disagree with that person, be sure to describe what about somebody else's previous comments do you agree/disagree with; base it on evidence.  Connect your responses to the content of chapter 19 (Chapter 20 in the 12th edition).


For more on John Brown's Raid, the following video was displayed at both the West Virginia and Virginia Historical Societies in 2009, the 150th anniversary of Brown's attempt to confiscate weapons from the arsenal in Harpers Ferry.


27 comments:

Rebecca M said...

In my opinion i strongly believe that John Brown was a hero. Brown had a goal to help try to put an end to slavery, which in my opinon is one of the most heroic things that someone could do. I do not think that he should have been put to death, but it was expected because he raged the southeners. Henry David thoreau said that he was "the bravest and humanest man in all the country" and i do agree with him.

Claudia Majkner said...

In my opinion, I think that while John Brown had good intentions that could have potentially made him a hero, he was a madman. By wanting to push the end to slavery, he called upon people to steal and rally slaves in Virginia. Even though he stuck by his views, the way he persued to take action was what made him a madman. When you disagree with something or someone for their ideas, it doens't give you the right to go around killing them or taking what's theres, because if all of society did that, there would be no order. Brown also doesn't regret what he did when writing to his Pastor in prison because he believed that what he did was right, if you're on death row for commiting crimes, then there was probably a better way to handle the sitution and still make a point of what you stand for.

Kristina B. said...

In my opinion, John Brown was a hero. He tried to end slavery. But, he was also a madman because instead of thinking about his wife and kids, he rallied up black and white men in Virginia. Ten of his men were killed including his 2 sons. I understand that he was trying to be a hero and do something that many people were tyring to do, but it's not worth sacrficing his family for it. Now, he has been sentenced to death.

Zack Sirowich said...

I believe John Brown was a hero. He had good intentions of ending slavery because he rallied up men and tried to take munition from a town. He was a strong abolitionist and did what he believed was best. His Harper's Ferry incident was one of two major ones where he professed his belief in anti-slavery.He was a hero not only for his Harper's ferry incident but the Pottawatomie massacre in which he wanted to help and try to put an end to slavery. A reason why he was a hero is that when John Brown was in his cell in Harper's Ferry, he was very concerned about his family. He wrote a letter to inform them the situation and gave them money.

Marissa Esposito said...

I think that John Brown is a hero. He was a stong abolitionist who wanted to fight for the North. He thought slavery was cruel and unusual. First he attacked the pro-slaverites at Pottawatomie Creek in 1856. Then, he seized the federal arsenal in 1859 in Harpers Ferry. He had a strong belief about slavery and proceeded to let everyone know, even the South. I don't think he sould have gotten executed becuase before his Pottawatomie Creek incident, the pro-slaverites had attacked the abolitionists in Lawrence. This incident is what provoked Brown on getting his belief out and getting revenge. I agree with Zack in that he wasn't a madman. He was concerened about his family when he was in jail, and even took the time out to write them a letter. John Brown didn't regret his actions or decisions, which makes him a strong abolitionist hero.

Brian said...

When looking at John Brown, it depends on which side you're looking at him from. He was a madman in the sense that he killed innocent people at the Pottawatomie Massarce and had no regard for even his own children at the Harper's Ferry incident. But that same thing made him a hero in some people's eyes because he died for what he believed was right, along with a majority of the country. If he had died defending slavery, he wouldnt be looked at as a hero at all, though. He is only a hero because the abolitionists won the war.

Makayla O'Hara said...

I believe that John Brown was a madman even though he was an abolitionist who wanted to end slavery. In May of 1856, he led a band of his followers to Pottawatomie Creek and slaughtered five men that were presumed to be proslavery. Then Kansas had its own civil war. These events destroyed millions of dollars worth of property and paralyzed agriculture in certain areas. At Harpers Ferry, Brown and his men killed seven innocent people. Brown caused harm. I agree with Claudia in that when you disagree with something or someone for their ideas, it doesn't give you the right to go around killing them. Brown killed many people and he didn't have the right to kill them just because they were proslavery. I see John Brown as more of a madman than a hero.

Jess Harkey said...

I think john Brown was murderer and a hero. he killed innocent people by chopping them up at pottawatomie creek. but he did it because of his strong beliefs in abolition. i dont think he should have been put to death he was just fighting for what he believed in.

Anonymous said...

I believe strongly that John Brown was a definite hero. Brown was a hero to all who were slaves and to the abolitionists. He was willing to give his life to put and end to the tragedy of slavery.

Willy said...

I agree with Jess that he shouldn't have been put to death for he was trying to put and end to what he believed and what was wrong and that was slavery

Claudia Valenti said...

I think that John Brown was an absolute madman. While he was a hero in the respect of dedicating his life and what he cherished most for the cause of abolition, I do not think that a fight for human rights exactly called for the massacre of humans at the Pottawatomie. Other abolitionists have dedicated their lives to the cause, and have also been killed for it, and most of them managed to fight for the end of slavery without murdering the innocent. I agree with most of the other comments in that he was a hero for putting his cause above all else he cared for to fight slavery, but I do not think that made him a martyr: he had violated the law and earned the death penalty because of the murders he committed, not his stance on slavery. I don’t think he can be honestly used as a martyr or a hero in the abolition movement because of this.

Rob Brito said...

I believe John Brown was a hero despite his mental issues. He wanted to bring an end to slavery, and supported his ideas strongly. His massacre at Pottawatomie Creek killing five innocent people, were for his antislavery statement after proslavery people attacked Lawrence. Though it was bad and i agree with jess and will, he did something bad, but trying to do something good end slavery. Fighting for what he believed in and he had to pay the price, death. So in the end he died a martyr to those who supported his beliefs.

Rob Lazzaro said...

In my opinion John Brown is a hero. He like most people from the North felt that slavery was a sin. John Brown wanted to see change and he was willing to fight for it. He made not just one but two stands against the issue. First at Pottawattamie Creek, where he felt like more had to be done. This was motivation to take another stand this time at the federal arsenal in Harpers Ferry. He wasn’t a madman he simply felt strongly that slavery was a big issue and that it should be abolished. Not everyone agreed with how much action he took towards the issue but he didn’t care, he did what he thought was right. I agree with Jess that he was killed for standing up for what he believed in. I don’t agree with this however, Claudia is right when she said that he murdered people so he was rightfully put to death. We have studied other abolitionists that had feelings just as strong as him and they didn’t kill anyone. It is good to see that John Brown stood up for what he believed in, but he may have gone a little too far with committing so many murders. In the end I do still commend John Brown and consider him a hero because of his strong belief in ending slavery.

caittrzaski said...

I do think John Brown was a martyr, he stood up for what he believed and had his life taken, but died with the dignity of doing it for a cause he believed in from the chaos of at the Harper Ferry and the Pottawatomie massacre.
I agree with with Zack saying how he was not crazy, he still had a clear head worrying about his family and still helping with the abolitionist even when he was locked up.

Damian Litwa said...

In my opinion I believe John Brown was a great abolitionist hero. He believed slavery was a sin, therefore he wanted slavery to be stopped. In 1856, he attacked the pro-slavery southerners in Pottawatomie Creek. Then in 1859, he seized the federal arsenal in Harpers Ferry. His actions were for the right reason, convincing many, North and South, to join the anti-slaverites. I agree with Marissa when she said that the proslaverites attacked first in Lawerence, which gave John Brown and many others to seek revenge, which isn't treason in my opinion making the execution a mockery of their rights.

Nicole E said...

Personally, I believe that John Brown was a leader for those who were abolitionists in the North. Brown stood up for his beliefs in ending slavery. Yes, using violence may not have been the wisest decision because of the executions of the men and Brown that followed the attack. I agree with Damian's comment that "his actions were for the right reason, convincing many, North and South, to join the anti-slaverites." This is because the attack was to make a point and gain support from others to fight against slavery. Also, in the reading Brown says "I am permitted to die for a cause." This not only shows Brown's dedication to end slavery, but shows that he is a hero to those against slavery.

Jess Harkey said...

I agree with Claudia, John brown was a madman with good intentions but just all the wrong ways of going about them. He never gave up in his fight for abolition. He did anything to convince people of abolition even if that meant he killed innocent people a Pottowotamie creek of on harpers ferry. He never had the right to kill those people. Even though he stood up for what he believed in he was crazy.

Anonymous said...

I think John Brown had a plan to do a good thing and help alot of people, but he was insane doing so. He had a plan but it didn't follow through as he would have liked. I thin k John Brown should have been executed becasue he still killed seven innocent people,; it would have been okay to make the Southeners mad but he crossed the line. He had a good heart in doing what he believed in like the line of the song "John Brown's body lies a-mound'ring in the grave, his soul is marching on"

Lee M said...

In my oppinion, though he was a hero in some apspects, he was a madman also. He stood up for whst he beleived in which was the end of slavery. However he resorted to rallying, violence, and murder.

Abby Lynch said...

I think John Brown had a plan to do a good thing and help alot of people, but he was insane doing so. He had a plan but it didn't follow through as he would have liked. I thin k John Brown should have been executed becasue he still killed seven innocent people,; it would have been okay to make the Southeners mad but he crossed the line. He had a good heart in doing what he believed in like the line of the song "John Brown's body lies a-mound'ring in the grave, his soul is marching on"

Owaiss L. said...

i think that John Brown was a mad man. He believed that slavery was a sin and so do I. yet, he thought that killing a man isn't i guess since he killed 7 innocent people. I find no logic in that. Also, a little assault isn't the solution to anything. Either wage a war or protest, no exceptions. The punishment of execution was well deserved. Which ever which way i look at him, i see him as nothing but a mad man.

Nick Kuzia said...

Overall, John Brown was a true hero. He put himself into the danger of knowing that he would be tried and executed for treason. After his actions he felt like he did what he could to make this country a better place, especially when he stated, "I have scarce realized that I am in prison or in irons at all. I certainly think I was never more cheerful in my life." I disagree with Claudia when she said "he had violated the law and earned the death penalty because of the murders he committed, not his stance on slavery" because he DID earn the death penalty because of his stance on slavery. He committed the murders BECAUSE of his strong feelings of abolition. In the end, his strong position resulted in the murders of people, but his overall goal was to support abolition while knowing that he would most likely be executed.

matt hollo said...

in my opinion john brown was a hero. brown strived to end slavery because he believed it was a sin. He did bold things too show he wanted to end slavery like the raid he performed. These things made people take notice on the trouble slavery causes. he may have gotten excecuted, but he didnt go without a fight or without getting his point across

jake walkinshaw said...

Based on what I just read and what I have read in the book, I believe that John Brown is a hero. He made great strides to end slavery and gave his life to this great cause. Slavery is an awful thing and I admire him for sticking up for what he believed in and for using this to steal slaves and rally in Virginia. I think it was justified for him to be put to death based on the crime he committed and the laws of the time period. But I feel that he was a hero for doing so.

kamila z said...

I think that John Brown was a hero. He wanted end slavery and he had good intentions. John Brown was a madman too. He killed innocent people Pottawatomie Massarce. I don't think he should have been put to death because he thought that he was doing good.

Katie P said...

John Brown was a hero and martyr. The incident at Harpers Ferry was fueled by the abolitionist cause, and the innocent people who were killed or injured by this rally were the inevitable collateral damage necessary to gain human rights. Brown was not wrong in turning to violence to push the issue. At the time the abolitionist cause was not proving to be strong enough to free the slaves or guarantee them civil rights. John Brown saw the greater picture. A few murders of innocent people in exchange for the freedom of an entire people was an exchange worth making in the name of God, the human race, and the integrity of the United States altogether.
I see why Rob Lazzaro believes that John Brown may have gone a little far in committing so many murders. Although murder is in no way right, I believe anything less could not abolish slavery. It is sad to think of the bloodshed, but on the issue as great as slavery, it couldn't be avoided. John Brown said, "I am permitted to die for a cause," "I was never more cheerful in my life," and "My sleep is as sweet as that of a healthy, joyous little infant" just before his execution. These are the words of an impassioned man, not a madman. Frederick Douglass had said he was the man who began the war that ended American slavery. It was his passion for the greater cause, not his madness, that allowed him to leave his legendary fingerprint on American history.

Laura said...

I think that John Brown was overall a hero. He risked his own life for what he believed in and did what he needed to make a big impact so that people could realize what he stood for.